Midwives

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VSO has called for "experienced midwives, senior trainee doctors and nurses" to volunteer. Credit: David Jones/PA Wire

British midwives have been urged to volunteer to train African nurses to deliver babies in a bid to reduce the number of women and children who die in childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Every year 350,000 women die in childbirth across the globe, with the majority of the deaths taking place in developing countries, volunteer organisation VSO said.VSO's UK director, Angela Salt, said many lives could be saved if health workers in developing countries were given better training.

"I urge experienced midwives, senior trainee doctors and nurses to consider volunteering," she said. "You could help hospital staff identify solutions to problems, train new students or work in health ministries in countries with the greatest need, such as Sierra Leone, Malawi and Ethiopia."